FCC Takes Action to Resolve Unlicensed White Space Device and Database Issues

The Federal Communications Commission adopted two orders resolving pending issues associated with white space devices and the white spaces databases. The actions will provide additional certainty to white space device users, manufacturers, and database administrators to enable unlicensed white space devices to operate efficiently and protect other spectrum users, in particular wireless microphone users. In the Second Order on Reconsideration, the addresses petitions for reconsideration of the requirement established in the FCC’s White Spaces Report and Order that white space databases “push” channel availability changes to white space devices when a licensed wireless microphone operator registers in the white space database to use a TV channel. The FCC removes the push notification requirement and replaces it with a simpler rule that requires fixed and personal/portable white space devices operating on broadcast TV channels to re-check the database more frequently, with the exception of narrowband white space devices.

In the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the seeks comment on the appropriate database re-check interval for narrowband and mobile white space devices; the FCC authorized these devices and did not address the issue of re-check intervals in its 2020 White Spaces Report and Order.  

Finally, in the Order, the FCC denies a petition for reconsideration of the Office of Engineering and Technology’s (OET’s) designation of Nominet UK (now RED Technologies) as a white space database administrator.